Rope controller



p i 3 1929 A; D. GILBERT 1,110,691

ROPE CONTROLLER Filed Oct. 14, 1927 I INVENTOR.

Y Z4 TTORNEYS.

Patented A r.30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT n. 61133315 wnsr'nmm, wrsconanr.

' ROPE com-noun.

application filed Oetober 14, 1921. Serial m. 220,144.

This invention relates to improvements in rope controllers and is moreparticularly adapted for use on boats to control the raising andlowering of an anchor.

It is one of the objectsof this invention to provide a rope controllerwhich ma be readily attached to any boat to contro the raising andlowering of the anchor.

It is a, further object of this invention to provide a rope controllerwhich makes it possible for an occupant of a boat to control the raisingand lowering of the anchor from any point within the boat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rope controllerwhich has means for automatically engaging the anchor rope to hold theanchor in any desired position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rope controllerwhich is simple in construction and operation and well adapted for thepurpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved rope controller, and all its arts and combinations 2 as setforth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing, in which the same reference numerals designate the sameparts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional, broken away view of a boat with the improved ropecontroller in attachment therewith, an anchor and anchor rope beingshown in use with the pulle Fig. 2 is a side view of the improve ropecontroller in attachment with a portion of a boat, parts being brokenaway and parts being shown in section to show theinterior constructionof the pulle and Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof. 7

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a housing or frame,which comprises two parallel plates 6, joined together by the connectingsections 7, 8, 9, and 10. A pulley wheel 11 is mounted within thehousing on a pin 12.

A U-shaped pawl 13 having teeth on one end is pivoted on a pin 14. Alever 15, having its outer end formed with an eye 16 is also pivotedwithin the housing on a pin 17. The inner end of the lever is arrangedto engage the awl to move it into or out-0f engagement wit the rope 18.The rope is also normally engaged by the teeth on the section 9. Thesection 10 is formed with a projection 19 for receiving one end'of aspring 20. The spring is U-shaped, and passes. around a pin 21, its freeend holding the lever 15 yieldingly in such a position that the pawl 13is'engaging the rope.

he lower end of the'housing has extending therefrom a rod 22 which ispivotally mounted in bearings 23 of a U-shaped clamping member 24. Oneend of the-clamping member has a threaded perforation 25 for receiving aclamping bolt 26. The bolt is formed with a all-shaped inner end 27 towhich a surface engaging member 28 is loosely connected. The other endof the clamping member is formed with teeth 29 for gripping the clampedsurface.

In using the device, it may be clamped on any portion of a boat, butpreferably the rear, as shown in Fig. 1. The rope is passed through theeye 16 of the lever, between the teeth of the section 9 and the pawl 13,and over the pulley 11. The outer end of the rope is attached to ananchor 30. When the anchor is in a raised position, as in Fig. 1, thereis a pull upon the ro which causes the teeth of the section 9'an thepawl 13 to grip the rope tightl and thus prevent the anchor from desceng. This construction is such that the heavier the anchor, the more t'htly the teeth will the rope. When it is desired to lower the anchor,the free end of the rope is pulled slightly downwardly. This may be donefrom any position in the boat, and may be readily accomplished by theperson doing the rowing without movmg from-his seat. The pull upon therope causes the lever 15 to assume the position indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. 2. In this position it will be noted that the pawl 13 ismoved out of engagement with the rope by reason of the inner end of thelever raising it slightly. With the teeth no longer gripping the rope,the anchor will descend by the force of gravity. When it touches thebottom of the lake, the rope is released, and the lever automaticallysprings back to its normal position because of the action of theU-shaped spring 20 upon it. This allows the pawl to once more engage there By reason of this construction, them wi 1 be no slack in the rope,and the anchor will hold the boat in the exact position in which it wasintended to be ancho To raise the anchor, the free end of the rope ispulled, and by means of the automatic locking construction, the anchormay be held in any desired position.

The housing is swiveled in the bearings 23 to permit the device to bereadily operated from any angle. a

While I have described the invention more particularly for use inconnection with an chors, it is not desired to limit it to thisparticular adaptation, as the broad concept of the invention contemlates its use for controlling ropes general y.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that the improved ropecontroller is simple in construction and operation, and is well adaptedfor the purposedescribed.

What I claim is: v

1. A rope controllefcomprising a frame, a pulleymounted within saidframe, a fixed locking member and a substantially V-shaped movablelocking member for engagin a rope therebetween, said locking membersolding the rope against movement in one direction and permittingmovement in the other direction, and a lever pivoted to the frame and engageable between the ends of the V-shaped movable locking member to movethe latter into or out of engagement with the rope, said lever beingengaged by the rope and being operable by a pull on the free endthereof.

2. An anchor rope controller for boats,

comprising a frame, means for securing said frame to a boat, ropesupporting means mounted within said frame, releasable means normallylocking the rope against movement in the direction of descent of theanchor and permitting movement in the other direction, and a leverthrough which the free end of the rope extends engageable with saidreleasable locking means, said lever extending at an angle upwardly, sothat a normal pull on the free end of the rope will operate to move saidlever downwardly.

3. An anchor rope controller for boats comprising a frame, means forsecuring said frame to a boat, rope supporting means mounted within saidframe, releasable means normally locking the rope against movement inthe direction of descent of the anchor and permitting movement in theother direction, and a lever engaged by the rope and engageable with thereleasable locking means, said lever extending at an angle upwardly, sothat a normal pull on the free end of the rope will operate to move saidlever downwardly.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

ALBERT D. GILBERT.

